Synthesis and characterization of polyketones containing pendant carbazoles

Condensation of 9-(4-aminobenzene)-carbazole with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone afforded a carbazole-functionalized poly(aryl amino ketone) (PAK-Cz). Similarly, a series of poly(ether ether ketone)s (PEEK-Cz) and poly(arylene ether ketone)s (PAEK-Cz) containing pendant carbazoles were synthesized from the copolymerization of 9-(4-aminobenzene)-carbazole, 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 4,4′-biphenol or 4,4′-isopropylidenebiphenol, respectively. The aforementioned polymers exhibited polystyrene equivalent number average molecular weights of up to 36 kDa, and were found to be thermally stable with high decomposition (Td) (469–569 °C) and glass transition temperatures (Tg) (155–256 °C). UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra revealed that these materials exhibited highly efficient (Φf = 0.41–0.66) yellow–green emission (λem = 500–514 nm) in solution.